The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-01-21
AUsTRIA-HUrcARY.
The System Of Government 49, q.
the Great Dual MOnafc. !"


The system Of Oovernmens !, ro-.. ..
the Great Dual MOnAfc. IN
OF the two great empires VIII, a..
now confronting each other with
slant threat of war in Eastern Europe
much is known about Russia, and but
little in this country about Austria
Hungary. Yet both the history and
the present condition of Austria-Hun-
gary are full of deep interest for those
whose tastes lead them to enjoy the
study of nations and political systems.
As the very name implies, Austria Hun
gary is dual monarchy; that is, two
monarchies combined into one by a
common tie. There is only one other
monarchy Of the sort in the world. that
Of Sweden and Norway. which two
countries arc eth more distinct from
each other than are Austria and Hun
gary. for they have no common govern
ment whatever.
Austria, that part of the Empire
which lies west of the River Leithn, and
Hungary, which lies east Of that river,
form each a kingdom entirely by itself.
The chief tie between them is the fact
that the same person is the sovereign
of both. The Emperor of Austria is
also King of Hungary, and is crowned
both at Vienna. the Austrian capital,
and also ut Buda-Pesth, the Hungarian
capital. But otherwise each Kingdom
has its separate Parliament, and its own
Cabinet, or Ministry. Each makes its
own laws, imposes and collects its own
taxes, and manages its own pub
lie affairs. In each kingdom, too,
the Cabinet is responsible to the two
bodies which constitute the national
legislature. There is, however, an ar
rangement by which the two kingdoms
act in concert as one Empire. in regard
to all matters of political moment COM
mon to them both. This arrangement
consists of body which is called the
delegations" The Delegations are
composed of sixty delegates from each
kingdom, chosen by the Parliaments.
who meet every year alternately at the
two capitals, and deliberate upon sub
jects of Imperial concern. Those sub
jects are foreign affairs, finance and
military administration. Correspond
ing to the Delegations, and responsible
to them, is an Imperial Cabinet, which.
comprises only three Ministers. The
first of these Ministers is at the head OF
the department of foreign affairs. The
other two Ministers hold the portfolios
Of war and finance. The power of the
Imperial Government, as such, is con-
fined, therefore, to diplomatic relations
with other powers, the management Of
the army and the conduct of wars, and
the financial measures needed for these
departments.
Austria-Hungary was for many GEN.
.uries a despotism as hard and as abso-
lutte as is that of Russia to-day. But
twenty years ago, as result Of its over
whelming defeat by the Prussians, il
became q constitutional monarchy. The
Emperor ceased to be absolute; Minis
tiers were made responsible to the rep
resentatives Of the people; and the peo-
pie were admitted to very large share
in the control of the Government. As
q result of this happy change the Aus
trian peoples were accorded liberty OF
speech and conscience, free press,
freedom of marriage and education.
a widely extended suffrage. An entire
ly new career was opened to them as
one of the great nations of Europe.
Composed as the empire is, of many
different, jealous, antagonistic races, OF
which the Germans, Ma&yars, Czechs
and Slavs are the chief, the task OF
holding them together as one nation
has been difficult. But the attainment
ofpolitical freedom by these people has
lessened the difficulty. The Emperor
was never so secure of his dOminions
when he was an absolute despot as he
has been since he gave up large por-
ton of his power, and Shared it with
his subjects. The Austro-Hungarian
Empire may not be long-lasting; but
it is certain that it would have fallen to
pieces long ago if despotism had not
been abandoned, and if free constitu-
lion had not been Touth's
Companion. ,.s.